Watch-dial fastener.



No. 780,775. PATENTED JAN. 24, 1905.

H. s. & J. R. BOOKWALTER.

WATCH DIAL FASTENER.

APPLICATION 1711,31) APR.13,1904.

4?; 7 JMUWIJOW q/vihwawo @MQWW UNITED STATES Patented January 24, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

HARRISON S. BOOKWALTER, OF MRNDON, OHIO, AND JOHN R. BOOK- WALTER, OF OKLAHOMA, OKLAHOMA TERRITORY.

WATCH-DIAL FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,77 5, dated January 24, 1905.

Application filed April 13, 1904. Serial No. 203,023.

To all whom it-mcty concern.-

Be it known that we, HARRISON S. Boon- WALTER, residing at Mendon, in the county of Mercer and State of Ohio, and JOHN R. 13001;- WALTER, residing at Oklahoma, in the county of Oklahoma and Territory of Oklahoma, citi- Zens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inl/Vatches, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to watches, and it has particular reference to the means for securing the watch-dial upon the movement-plate. This has heretofore been usually accomplished by inserting the dial-feet into openings provided for their reception in the upper movement-plate and then securing them by means of set-screws inserted laterally through threaded orifices in the edge of the plate. This has been objectionable for the reason that by the lateral pressure thereby involved the enamel upon the dial-plate has frequently been caused to crack. Again, set-screws are apt to become loosened in the course of time, thus rendering the attachment of the dial insecure.

By our present improvement we aim to secure the dial in position upon the movementplate by a downward strain upon the dial-feet, said strain being of a nature to form a secure attachment without liability of cracking the enamel or otherwise injuring the dial.

The nature of our invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a simple and preferred form of embodiment of the invention has been presented, it being understood, however, that we do not necessarily limit ourselves to the precise structural details therein shown, but reserve the right to such changes, alterations, and modifications as come fairly within the scope of the invention and which may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the same.

In said drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a m ovement-plate equipped with our improved means for the attachment of the dial, one of the fastening devices having been removed in order to show the subjacent construction. 2 is a perspective view showing the dial inverted. Fig. 3 is a perspective View, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of a movementplate constructed in accordance with our in: vention. Fig. Ais a perspective view of one of the fastening devices detached from the movementplate. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the fastening device inverted. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, of aportion of the movement-plate,showing a dial-foot and a corresponding portion of the dial secured by the improved fastening device. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken at an angle to Fig. 6.

In carrying out our invention the movement-plate 1 is provided with the usual perforations 2 for the reception of the feet 3 of the dial 4E, said feet being usually three in number. These parts are of ordinary construction with the exception that each of the dial-feet is provided near its lower end with a groove or grooves 5. hen asingle groove is used, it will be of annular form, as shown in the drawings.

In the under surface of the movement-plate are formed shallow circular recesses 6. which are eccentric with relation to the openings 2 and in the bottom of each of which is formed a groove 7, concentric with the recess, said groove being made sloping, as shown, from the bottom of the recess to any desired depth. In the bottom of each recess, opposite to the curved sloping groove 7, are also formed two indentations 8 S.

9 designates the fastening device,which consists of a circular plate adapted to fit loosely in the recess 6, said plate being preferably stamped or otherwise formed from brass, steel, or other resilient material, one of said plates being pivotally mounted in each of the recesses 6, where it is capable of rotating freely upon a shouldered pin 10, the upper end of which is clenched or upset to secure the member 9 properly in position. The

member 9, which constitutes the fastening device,is, as stated, made of resilient material,the purpose of which will presently be made apparent.

Each of the fastening members 9 is provided with a curved concentric keyhole-slot 11, adjacent to the small end of which is formed a struck-up projection 12 upon the upper side of the member 9, which engages the curved sloping groove 7 in the bottom of the recess. Each of the members 9 is also provided with a vertical transverse pin 15, the one end of which bears against the bottom of the recess 6 for engagement with the depressions 8 8, while the other end of said pin forms a handle adapted to be grasped by a pair of tweezers for the convenient manipulation of the device.

The parts of the device are so proportioned and arranged with relation to each other that when the large end of the keyhole-slot 11 is in alinement with the perforations 2 the stud 12 shall be placed at the lower end of the curved sloping groove 7, while the inner or upper end of the pin 15 shall be in engagement with the depression 8. hen the several locking members are in this position, the feet of the dial may be inserted in the usual manner through the perforations 2. This will bring the grooves 5 near the ends of the dialfeet into alinement with the locking plates or members, which latter may now be turned or partially rotated upon their pivots, thus causing the keyhole-slots 11 to engage the grooves 5. At the same time the studs 12 will ride upwardly in the sloping grooves 7 thus causing the fastening members to exercise strain in a downward direction upon the dial-feet, thereby securing the dial in position, the fastening members being retained by engagement of the pin 15 with the recess or depression 8. The parts will obviously be so proportioned that the strain will not be excessive or injurious, this being also in a large measure avoided by the resilient nature of the fastening members. The special advantage of our invention, however, resides in the fact that the dial-plate is positively locked against movement with relation to the movemen t-plate. hen screws are employed, as is usually the case, they are apt to work loose in the course of time, and a very slight displacement of the dial-plate may cause it to bear against the seconds-hand sufficiently to seriously impair the timekeeping qualities of the watch. This by our improvement is rendered absolutely impossible. The movementplate and the dial-plate by our invention also become so intimately associated as to prevent the admission between them of dust, which is obviously important.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A movement-plate having a recess in the under side thereof, and a perforation eccentric with relation to said recess, in combination with a dial-plate having an annularlygrooved foot engaging the perforation, and a locking member pivoted in the recess and having a keyhole-slot engaging the dial-foot.

2. A movement-plate having a recess in the under side thereof and a perforation eccentric with relation to said recess, in combination with a dial-plate having an annularlygrooved foot engagingthc perforation, a keyhole-slotted locking member pivoted in the recess, and means for forcing the slotted part of said locking member outward from the bottom of the recess.

3. A movement-plate having a recess in the under side thereof, and a perforation eccentric with relation to said recess, in combination with a dial-plate having an annularlygrooved foot engaging the perforation, a resilientkeyhole-slotted plate pivoted in the re cess and having a struck-up lug or projection engaging a sloping groove in the bottom of said recess, and a pin extending through the pivoted resilient plate, one end of said pin forming a handle, and the other end being for engagement with spaced notches in the bottom of the recess.

4. A movementplate having perforations for the reception of the dial-feet of a dialplate, said movementplate being provided in its under side with recesses, eccentric with relation to said perforations, with grooves concentric to said recesses, and with indentations at the ends of said grooves, resilient disks secured pivotally in said recesses and having keyhole-slots and struck-up studs en gaging the sloping grooves, and pins extending transversely through said resilient members, in combination with a dial-plate having feet provided with grooves adapted to be engaged by the rotary resilient members.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures each in the presence of two witnesses.

I-IARRlSON S. BOOKWAL'LER. JOHN R. BOOKWALTER. Witnesses as to signature of Harrison S. Bookwalter:

G. M. FONNER, J on DONART.

\Vitnesses as to signature of John E. Bookwalter:

CHAS. J. OKEEFE, H. C. TATE. 

